[comp.org.fidonet] FidoNET Newsletter, Volume 5, # 25

pozar@hoptoad.uucp (Tim Pozar) (06/21/88)

     Volume 5, Number 25                                  20 June 1988
     +---------------------------------------------------------------+
     |                                                  _            |
     |                                                 /  \          |
     |                                                /|oo \         |
     |        - FidoNews -                           (_|  /_)        |
     |                                                _`@/_ \    _   |
     |        International                          |     | \   \\  |
     |     FidoNet Association                       | (*) |  \   )) |
     |         Newsletter               ______       |__U__| /  \//  |
     |                                 / FIDO \       _//|| _\   /   |
     |                                (________)     (_/(_|(____/    |
     |                                                     (jm)      |
     +---------------------------------------------------------------+
     Editor in Chief                                       Dale Lovell
     Editor Emeritus:                                   Thom Henderson
     Chief Procrastinator Emeritus:                       Tom Jennings
     Contributing Editors:                                   Al Arango
     
     FidoNews  is  published  weekly  by  the  International   FidoNet
     Association  as  its  official newsletter.  You are encouraged to
     submit articles for publication in FidoNews.  Article  submission
     standards  are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC,  available from
     node 1:1/1.
     
     Copyright 1988 by  the  International  FidoNet  Association.  All
     rights  reserved.  Duplication  and/or distribution permitted for
     noncommercial purposes only.  For  use  in  other  circumstances,
     please contact IFNA at (314) 576-4067. IFNA may also be contacted
     at PO Box 41143, St. Louis, MO 63141.
     
     Fido  and FidoNet  are registered  trademarks of  Tom Jennings of
     Fido Software,  164 Shipley Avenue,  San Francisco, CA  94107 and
     are used with permission.
     
     The  contents  of  the  articles  contained  here  are  not   our
     responsibility,   nor   do   we   necessarily  agree  with  them.
     Everything here is  subject  to  debate.  We  publish  EVERYTHING
     received.



                             Table of Contents

     1. ARTICLES  .................................................  1
        New Bird Watchers ECHO - "For Birders Only"  ..............  2
        As FidoCon'88 Approaches  .................................  3
     2. COLUMNS  ..................................................  4
        FidoCon'88 Agenda  ........................................  4
     3. FOR SALE  .................................................  6
        Programs too big?  Give 'em the AXE!  .....................  6
     4. NOTICES  ..................................................  7
        The Interrupt Stack  ......................................  7
        FidoCon Supersavers  ......................................  7
        Latest Software Versions  .................................  8
        New Zone 3 Coordinator  ...................................  8
     5. COMMITTEE REPORTS  ........................................  9
     And more!
     FidoNews 5-25                Page 1                   20 Jun 1988


     =================================================================
                                 ARTICLES
     =================================================================

          I  have  written two Outside programs for the OPUS <tm>
     and Fido 11w <tm> Bulletin Board Systems.  They may be piped
     (redirected) using the excellent program GATEWAY,  or  using
     DOS redirection through CTTY Com1 or CTTY Com2.

          These  two programs are called TRANSITS and NATAL. They
     are for  the  astrology  student.  (And,  it  seems,  Ronald
     Reagan.)

          When invoked, TRANSITS will calculate the longitude and
     latitude  for  the  Sun,  Moon, planets, five asteroids, and
     eight uranian placements, with heliocentric  and  geocentric
     values, for  the  exact moment TRANSITS is run.  It gets the
     required information  from  the  computer's  date  and  time
     stamp,  and  a  sysop-edited file called TRANSITS.CTL. These
     values will be given in decimal and sign notation.

          TRANSITS.CTL  just  holds  the  geographic   longitude,
     latitude, and time zone for the computer running TRANSITS.

          A  sample  batch  file  is  included with TRANSITS. The
     device driver that does  the  redirection  (piping)  is  NOT
     included,  as  it  is  not  my  program, but is available at
     Astro-Net (Called GATEWAY).    The  carrier  detect  program
     WATCHCD  is  also a good idea, and is available at Astro-Net
     as well.  Please, if you use  the  programs  GATEWAY  and/or
     WATCHCD, pay the shareware price for them.

          TRANSITS  may  be  downloaded  from  Astro-Net  free of
     charge.  It may not be sold for  any  price  or  remittance.
     This  means  "distributing  companies" may not copy and sell
     any of my programs.  TRANSITS may only be installed on a BBS
     that does not charge users for any remittance for using said
     BBS.

          File request: TRANSITS.ARC.

          The program NATAL will do the  same  as  TRANSITS,  but
     requires the  user to supply all information.  The user must
     enter day of event, month, year, time, longitude,  latitude,
     and zone.    NATAL  will  also calculate the Placidian house
     cusps, unlike TRANSITS. NATAL does  not  require  any  other
     file to run, and therefore requires no maintenance.

          Fire Request: NATAL.ARC

          David   Rice  Astro-Net  (1:103/503.0)  (714)  662-2294
     2400,n,8,1.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FidoNews 5-25                Page 2                   20 Jun 1988


     Mike Ratledge, SysOp - 372/888 - The East Bay X-Change TCommNet

                         =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
                         = "For Birders Only" Echo =
                         =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

     I am pleased to announce the availability of a new echo-mail
     conference group for bird watchers named "For Birders Only"!

     This echo will be supported by the Charleston Natural History
     Society (local Audubon chapter) and also expects to get regular
     input from the Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology and
     "Wild Bird" magazine, as well as rare bird sighting information
     from various sources available through the nationwide rare bird
     hotline, Carolina Bird Club and the South Carolina Wildlife and
     Marine Resources department in Columbia to get us started.  I
     hope that interest will be sufficient in the near future for us
     to bring the headquarters of the National Audubon Society online
     as they have expressed interest to me in hopes of creating a new
     bulletin board to carry similar information!

     This conference group has been active for quite a while, and all
     previous information posted will be available if you want to get
     "up-to-date".  Note that I expect at least two other sources to
     be available shortly - one through Tom Hendricks (13/33) on his
     "Avi-Tech" board which specialized in pet birds (and has another
     echo named 'AVICULTURE' available to pet bird lovers).

     Interested SysOps should contact me via netmail at 372/888 and I
     will arrange for a feed either from my board, or from someone in
     a closer location if possible.

     The "For Birders Only" conference group is mentioned in the next
     (not out as of this writing - August) issue of "Wild Bird"
     magazine on pages 6 and 7 in the 'Bulletin Bird' section.  I will
     post a listing of other boards participating in an upcoming issue
     of "Wild Bird" as well.

     I know there is a lot of interest out there, so let's get started
     and provide a useful vehicle for information to the bird-lovers
     around the country!

     Conference host and SIG-Op will be the real expert in the family:
     Donna Ratledge.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FidoNews 5-25                Page 3                   20 Jun 1988


     Tim Sullivan
     108/62


               + * + * +  IT'S STILL NOT TOO LATE!  + * + * +

     FidoCon'88 is quickly approaching and it's still not too late to
     register!  Less than a month from now is the closing date for the
     Delta Airlines free ticket giveaway and the USR discounts are
     going FAST!

     You must register before July 15 to be eligible to win a free
     round-trip ticket from Delta Airlines to anywhere they fly in the
     continental US!

     There are still some coupons left for the US Robotics special
     discount offer.  If you are one of the first 50 to register for
     this year's conference, you will receive a discount from US
     Robotics of $50 off the price of an HST 9600 baud modem.  You may
     use this discount along with the SYSOP deal ($495) to bring the
     cost of an HST down to $445.00!  - - > BUT you must be one of the
     first 50 to register!

     Remember after July 31 the cost for the conference jumps to $75!
     and you must register at the door.  So register now and get in on
     the discounts and they airline ticket drawing!

     For more information contact Rick Ashworth at 1/88 or Tim
     Sullivan at 108/62.

     See you all here in August!



     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FidoNews 5-25                Page 4                   20 Jun 1988


     =================================================================
                                  COLUMNS
     =================================================================

     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     FidoCon is Coming!     |                |                       |
     |                      FidoCon is Coming!                       |
     |                      |                |      FidoCon is Coming!
     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FidoCon'88 is taking shape.  Come August, Cincinnati will be full
     of BBSers and their families ready to soak up fun, friendship and
     knowledge.

     We have an exciting agenda taking shape and I just couldn't wait
     any longer to give you a peek!  Here is the first look at some of
     our speakers and what they will be talking about.


     George Stanislov              Opus
     George Stanislov              Avatar
     Tim Pozar                     UUCP->Fido Gateway
     Henk Wevers                   Dutchie & Region 2 report
     Tom Jennings & Ken Kaplan     History of Fidonet
     Michael Connick               Tabby and Tabby point
     Phil Becker                   TBBS
     Decker Doggett                Lessons in echo mail
     Mike Bader                    Fido technology in the Work place
     Julia Stockreef               New online information system
     Chris Irwin                   D'Bridge
     Bob Hartman/Vince Periello    Binkleyterm
     Bob Hartman                   FTSC
     Marshall Presnell             ANS
     Jonathon Wallace              Legal ramifications of BBS'es
     Randy Van de Loo              Hard Drives and ARLL technology
     David Dodell                  Policy 4
     Harry Lee                     GS point, Glu fwd and others
     Mike Bryeans                  Dutchie and Brinkers
     Joaquim Homrighausen          Front Door
     Butch Walker                  Echo Policy
     Linda Thompson                BBS & Privacy - A question of
                                   Liability

     We are also expecting presentations from some of our favorite
     vendors such as: US Robotics, Borland, Apple and Compuserve.

     Also on the slate are panel discussions dealing with IFNA,
     Echomail, FidoNet of the future and much more!

     And a very special guest will be here to address us at the Friday
     night banquet!

     Make plans now to be here this August.  For more information
     contact Rick Ashworth at 1/88 or Tim Sullivan at 108/62.  Just a
     few more days left before the Delta Airlines ticket is given
     away! Don't miss out! Register before July 15th.
     FidoNews 5-25                Page 5                   20 Jun 1988


     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     FidoCon is Coming!     |                |                       |
     |                      FidoCon is Coming!                       |
     |                      |                |      FidoCon is Coming!
     -----------------------------------------------------------------


     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FidoNews 5-25                Page 6                   20 Jun 1988


     =================================================================
                                 FOR SALE
     =================================================================

                    Programs too big?  Give 'em the AXE!


     What could  SEA  do  to  top  it's  phenominally  successful  ARC
     program?


     Well,  have  you noticed that new programs from SEA don't seem to
     ARC very well lately?


                               *     *     *


     System Enhancement Associates,  Inc.  is proud  to  announce  the
     latest  and  greatest  addition  to our line of quality software.
     Our new product is called AXE, and it can chop your programs down
     to size!

     If you thought ARC was good,  wait until  you  see  AXE!  It  can
     compress  almost  any  .EXE  or  .COM  file  by  twenty to thirty
     percent,  saving you megabytes of disk  space.  And,  here's  the
     best part, the programs don't have to be uncompressed to run!

     That's right,  you can AXE all your programs and make them twenty
     to thirty percent smaller (or MORE), and they still run just like
     they always did.  You'll never even notice  you  AXEd  them,  but
     you'll sure notice the extra disk space!

     AXE is available for $50 from:

                    System Enhancement Associates, Inc.
                       21 New Street, Wayne NJ 07470

     or  you  can call us (voice) at 201-473-5153.  We accept VISA and
     MasterCard.  Get AXE today, and chop your programs down to size!

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FidoNews 5-25                Page 7                   20 Jun 1988


     =================================================================
                                  NOTICES
     =================================================================

                          The Interrupt Stack


     25 Jun 1988
        EuroCon II starts in Tiel, Holland. Sponsored by the Dutch
        Hobby Computer Club. Will run for 2 days. Contact Hans
        Lichthelm at 2:2/999 for information.

     16 Jul 1988
        A new  areacode, 508, will  form in eastern  Massachusetts and
        will  be effective on  this date.  The  new area  code will be
        formed  from the  current  areacode 617.  Greater Boston  will
        remain areacode 617  while the  rest of eastern  Massachusetts
        will form the new areacode 508.

     25 Aug 1988
        Start  of the  Fifth  International  FidoNet Conference, to be
        held  at  the Drawbridge Inn  in Cincinnati, OH.  Contact  Tim
        Sullivan at 108/62 for more information. This is FidoNet's big
        annual get-together, and is your chance to meet all the people
        you've  been talking with  all this time.  We're hoping to see
        you there!

     24 Aug 1989
        Voyager 2 passes Neptune.


     If you have something which you would like to see on this
     calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------




     * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

     It has come to my attention that there are great deals to be had
     by booking your FidoCon'88 airfare early.  By making reservations
     now you can save $$$$ and with many of today's SuperSaver fares
     you can still cancel as late as 3 days ahead of time if there is
     a problem.

     Couple these already low fares with the special discounts Delta
     has made available to us and you can potentially save BIG $$$$!

                  Contact 1/88 or 108/62 for more details!

     * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *



     FidoNews 5-25                Page 8                   20 Jun 1988


     -----------------------------------------------------------------

                          Latest Software Versions

     BBS Systems            Node List              Other
     & Mailers   Version    Utilities   Version    Utilities   Version

     Dutchie        2.81    EditNL         4.00*   ARC            5.21
     Fido            12h*   MakeNL         2.12*   ARCmail         1.1
     Opus          1.03b    Prune          1.40    ConfMail       3.31
     SEAdog         4.10    XlatList       2.86    EchoMail       1.31
     TBBS           2.0M    XlaxNode       1.02    MGM             1.1
     BinkleyTerm    1.50*   XlaxDiff       1.02
     QuickBBS       2.01*   ParseList      1.10

     * Recently changed

     Utility authors:  Please help  keep  this  list  up  to  date  by
     reporting  new  versions  to 1:1/1.  It is not our intent to list
     all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------


     David Dodell, 1:1/0
     FidoNet International Coordinator

     Larry Lewis has just been appointed the new Zone  3  Coordinator.
     Larry's   node   number   is   3:713/606   ...   He  will  assume
     responsibilities of the job at the end of June.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FidoNews 5-25                Page 9                   20 Jun 1988


     =================================================================
                             COMMITTEE REPORTS
     =================================================================

     By-Laws and Rules Committee
     1:102/2871

     The By-laws and Rules Committee has prepared the rules which
     appear below for this year's By-laws amendment process.  They
     have been approved by the IFNA Board of Directors.


                 1988 Rules for Amendment of By-laws


     1. By-Law Amendments will only be accepted from IFNA members.

     2. The By-Laws Committee is responsible for any suggested
        changes to the By-Laws.  To this end, all suggestions must be
        submitted to the By-Laws Committee for inclusion on the
        Ballot.  The Committee reserves the right to edit, combine, or
        expand the submissions provided that any changes made do not
        substantially change the original intent of the suggestion.
        In the event of conflicting suggestions, the changes may be
        presented on the Ballot in the form of a "multiple choice"
        where only one of the suggestions may be selected.

     3. All proposed amendments will be of the form "old wording"/
        "new wording" including By-Law reference numbers where
        applicable.  This is intended to clarify the changes proposed.

     4. All changes must be received by the Secretary at least 60
        days prior to the scheduled vote date in order to be included
        on the Ballot.  They will then be forwarded to the By-Laws
        committee for preparation for inclusion on the Ballot.

     5. Ballots will be accepted from members in good standing
        through regular postal service addressed to the Secretary and
        must be received no later than the Annual Meeting.
        Alternately, Ballots will be accepted from members in good
        standing provided they are hand delivered to the Secretary or
        his designate at the Annual Meeting, no later than the
        announced time for the closing of the polls.

     6. A certified public accountant will receive and collate all
        mail Ballots received prior to the Annual Meeting, and will be
        responsible for the receipt, tabulation and verification of
        all Ballots cast before the close of voting.  The certified
        public accountant will present and certify the results of the
        balloting.

     7. In the event of a tie, the current (outgoing) President shall
        cast the deciding vote.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FidoNews 5-25                Page 10                  20 Jun 1988


            OFFICERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION

     Ken Kaplan       100/22   Chairman of the Board
     Don Daniels      107/210  President
     Mark Grennan     147/1    Vice President
     Dave Dodell      114/15   Vice President - Technical Coordinator
     Tom Marshall     107/524  Secretary
     Leonard Mednick  12/1     Treasurer



                         IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

         DIVISION                               AT-LARGE

     10  Steve Jordan      102/2871        Don Daniels     107/210
     11  Bill Allbritten   11/301          Hal DuPrie      101/106
     12  Leonard Mednick   12/1            Mark Grennan    147/1
     13  Rick Siegel       107/27          Brad Hicks      100/523
     14  Ken Kaplan        100/22          Ted Polczyinski 154/5
     15  Jim Cannell       128/13          Kurt Reisler    109/74
     16  Vince Perriello   141/491         Robert Rudolph  261/628
     17  Rob Barker        138/34          Greg Small      148/122
     18  Christopher Baker 135/14          Bob Swift       140/24
     19  Vernon Six        19/0            Larry Wall      15/18
      2  Henk Wevers       2:500/1         Gee Wong        107/312

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FidoNews 5-25                Page 11                  20 Jun 1988


                 The World's First   /  \
                    BBS Network     /|oo \
                    * FidoNet *    (_|  /_)
                                    _`@/_ \    _
                                   |     | \   \\
                                   | (*) |  \   ))
                      ______       |__U__| /  \//
                     / Fido \       _//|| _\   /
                    (________)     (_/(_|(____/ (tm)

            Membership for the International FidoNet Association

     Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that
     pays the annual membership fee.  IFNA serves the international
     FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to increase
     worldwide communications.

     Name __________________________________  Date ___________________
     Address _________________________________________________________
     City ____________________________________________________________
     State ________________________________  Zip _____________________
     Country _________________________________________________________
     Home Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
     Work Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
     Is this a new application? _________  a renewal? ________________
     Are you a Sysop? _________  If so, for how long? ________________
     Your BBS Info:   (Non-Sysops enter info for your most-called BBS)
     Zone:Net/Node Number ____________________________________________
     BBS Name ________________________________________________________
     BBS Phone Number ________________________________________________
     Your Special Interests __________________________________________
     _________________________________________________________________
     _________________________________________________________________
     In what areas would you be willing to help in FidoNet? __________
     _________________________________________________________________
     _________________________________________________________________
     Are there any special resources that you could provide? _________
     _________________________________________________________________

               Regular Membership                     $25
               Lifetime Membership                    $250

         Send this form and a check or money order in US Funds to:
                   International FidoNet Association
                   c/o Leonard Mednick, CPA
                   700 Bishop Street, #1014
                   Honolulu, HI   96813    USA

     IFNA is a general not-for-profit organization.  Articles of
     Association and By-Laws were adopted by the membership in January
     1987.  The IFNA Echomail Conference has been established on
     FidoNet to assist the Board of Directors.  We welcome your input
     on this Conference.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

     FidoNews 5-25                Page 12                  20 Jun 1988


                     INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
                                 ORDER FORM

                                Publications

     The IFNA publications can be obtained by downloading from Fido
     1:1/10 or  other FidoNet compatible  systems, or by purchasing
     them directly from IFNA.  We ask that  all our  IFNA Committee
     Chairmen   provide  us   with  the  latest  versions  of  each
     publication, but we can make no written guarantees.

     Hardcopy prices as of October 1, 1986

        IFNA Fido BBS listing                       $15.00    _____
        IFNA Administrative Policy DOCs             $10.00    _____
        IFNA FidoNet Standards Committee DOCs       $10.00    _____

                                                  SUBTOTAL    _____

                      IFNA Member ONLY Special Offers

        System Enhancement Associates SEAdog        $60.00    _____
        SEAdog price as of March 1, 1987
        ONLY 1 copy SEAdog per IFNA Member

        Fido Software's Fido/FidoNet               $100.00    _____
        Fido/FidoNet price as of November 1, 1987
        ONLY 1 copy Fido/FidoNet per IFNA Member

        International orders include $10.00 for
               surface shipping or $20.00 for air shipping    _____

                                                  SUBTOTAL    _____

                    HI. Residents add 4.0 % Sales tax         _____

                                                  TOTAL       _____

        SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER IN US FUNDS:
        International FidoNet Association
        c/o Leonard Mednick, MBA, CPA
        700 Bishop Street, #1014
        Honolulu, HI.  96813-4112
        USA

     Name________________________________
     Zone:Net/Node____:____/____
     Company_____________________________
     Address_____________________________
     City____________________  State____________  Zip_____
     Voice Phone_________________________

     Signature___________________________

     -----------------------------------------------------------------

-- 
---
 ...sun!hoptoad!\                                     Tim Pozar
                 >fidogate!pozar               Fido:  1:125/406
  ...lll-winken!/                            PaBell:  (415) 788-3904
       USNail:  KKSF / 77 Maiden Lane /  San Francisco CA 94108